World Cup surprise turns against FIFA president — and calls for his resignation
After FIFA president Gianni Infantino has faced considerable criticism recently, Norway decided today (Friday) to sharpen its tone and called for him to resign. In doing so, Norway went one step further than the football associations of England, Wales, Croatia, and Albania, all of which withdrew their support for Infantino without explicitly calling for him to resign.
After FIFA president Gianni Infantino has faced considerable criticism recently, Norway decided today (Friday) to sharpen its tone and called for him to resign. In doing so, Norway went one step further than the football associations of England, Wales, Croatia, and Albania, all of which withdrew their support for Infantino without explicitly calling for him to resign.
President of the Norwegian Football Federation, Lise Klaveness, in her official statement:
"He (Infantino) does not have the institutional trust required to lead FIFA in a stable manner in the times we are in. There is no way back for Gianni Infantino. Cooperation in international football is in serious trouble, and we must find a reason to unite now, and we want to ask the FIFA president to resign now."
Klaveness, a lawyer by training, went over a list of concerns that the Norwegian association had expressed to FIFA during her four years in office. Among them were questions regarding the awarding of tournament hosting rights, the first FIFA Peace Prize awarded to US President Donald Trump in December, and the lifting of the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun during the last World Cup following a phone call from Trump.
But not everyone is against Infantino. The Mexican Football Federation spoke out against the association to which it belongs (of North and Central American countries) and supported the FIFA president. This came after the association called for a "comprehensive self-reflection" regarding Infantino's presidency after he canceled plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
The FIFA president's idea was to make the World Cup tournaments more profitable and even sell shares of the World Cup organization to private investors. Since FIFA is recognized as a non-profit organization, Infantino proposed establishing a subsidiary that would be responsible for management and from which the shares would be sold.
FIFA's argument in favor of the move was "to ensure all FIFA member associations have the opportunity to take significant ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their countries." This while the organization did not explain why the countries would need such an opportunity at all.
The current event comes as the FIFA presidential elections are approaching and the status of Infantino, which was until recently unassailable, seems more fragile than ever. The incumbent president will require a two-thirds majority in the first round or a simple majority in subsequent rounds to extend his presidency until 2031.
